The Haines Borough’s biomass project has been officially disbanded after the assembly voted Tuesday to return a $900,000 Alaska Energy Authority grant. The grant, which the borough secured five or six years ago, was set to expire this fall. It would have partially funded a wood chip-burning biomass boiler system to heat municipal buildings, replacing […]
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Assembly may hold town hall on role of borough manager
The public may have an opportunity to weigh in on the Haines Borough’s next manager. After a meeting July 1, the assembly’s personnel committee is recommending the full assembly solicit community input before moving forward with the hiring process. The borough has been without a permanent manager since the assembly fired Debra Schnabel on May 19. Borough […]
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$850,000 will fund first round of CARES Act business grants
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly passed a spending plan for $2.1 million in federal COVID-19 relief, the first of three installments the borough is scheduled to receive through the CARES Act. The CARES Act requires the money be used exclusively to cover “necessary expenditures incurred due to…COVID-19” between March 1 and Dec. 30 of this year, […]
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Assembly narrows down use of $2.1 million in federal funds
The Haines Borough is inching toward a finalized plan for how to spend roughly $2.1 million in federal CARES Act funds. In total, the borough is expected to receive $4 million in CARES Act funding in three installments during the course of this year. The borough must spend 80% of its first installment before it receives the […]
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Assembly begins work on ballot measure
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly’s finance committee gave chair Brenda Josephson the authority to work with staff to draft language for a ballot measure asking voters to approve a draw from the borough’s permanent fund. Assembly member Zephyr Sincerny, who proposed the measure, said the intent is to ask voters to approve a $450,000 draw, roughly […]
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Small cruise ships could return to Haines sooner than expected
At least one cruise line is taking steps to resume sailings in Lynn Canal as early as next month. At Tuesday’s assembly meeting, tourism director Steve Auch announced he’d been approached by small ship cruise company American Cruise Lines about the potential for summer dockings. The company’s first port call in Haines is scheduled for June 17. […]
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Manager addresses assembly, mayor after her termination
Former Haines Borough manager Debra Schnabel on Tuesday night addressed the assembly members and Mayor who fired her last week, and placed final responsibility on Mayor Jan Hill, who broke a 3-3 tie vote in favor of firing Schnabel. “This decision was yours,” Schnabel told Hill. “I am very disappointed. It seems to me that this could have been an opportunity to lead, […]
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Assembly narrowly fires manager: mayor breaks tie
The Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday evening to fire borough manager Debra Schnabel without cause, with Mayor Jan Hill breaking a 3-3 tie vote. Assembly member Jerry Lapp, Stephanie Scott and Zephyr Sincerny were opposed to the motion to fire Schnabel while members Paul Rogers, Brenda Josephson, Gabe Thomas and Jan Hill voted in support. The assembly met in executive session with its attorney for more than […]
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Assembly suspends manager with pay
The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 at its regular meeting Tuesday to suspend borough manager Debra Schnabel with pay. The assembly will hold an executive session and will meet with the borough attorney to consider “the necessary steps to terminate the manager without cause.” Assembly members Paul Rogers, Brenda Josephson, Gabe Thomas and Jerry Lapp were in favor while members Stephanie Scott and […]
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Assembly cuts funding for HEDC, library and museum
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly amended the working draft of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year to reflect a 50% reduction in sales tax revenue. To offset the reduction, the draft includes several cuts including an anticipated one-month library closure in the fall or winter; a year-long closure of the museum to the public; elimination […]